Duke 0f Chance (Regency Stories Book 2) Read online

  “I shall inform Lord Stockett myself and then your parents,” the Duke said as he stepped around her and opened the door.

  She stared down at the coin that showed the terrorizing snake and skull. He was not called the Duke of Chance without a reason, for she could not believe the man’s luck.

  “Oh, and one more thing,” he said as she stood staring down at the coin. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a note, and handed to her. “Please, buy a new dress.” Before he left, he reached down, grabbed the coin and put it back into the inside pocket of his coat.

  Anger, sadness, and humiliation washed over her in droves as he turned and walked from the room. The man was a rogue, there was no doubt about it, forcing her to gamble, stealing a kiss, and looking down at her for the clothes she wore. The man was brazen and rude, but what bothered her the most was that, despite all that, she still found him handsome, and that only made it all hurt all the more.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Chapter Five

  It had been three days since the Duke of Chance stole a kiss from her, and Hannah still vowed to seek her revenge. Yes, that kiss made her lightheaded at the time—it still did whenever she thought about it. And Yes, she secretly wished for it to happen once again. However, that did not mean that she should be forced to accept such forwardness, even if the man was a duke.

  None of that mattered, though. What did matter was the pacing of her father in the parlor. The Duke was expected to arrive at any moment, and her father had spoken nonstop about the man’s visit all morning.

  “A duke in this house,” he said, not for the first time, as he came to a stop before the great window that looked over their meager garden—meager now that she had seen the gardens of the Duke, that is. Before that, she had thought of it as an amazing place in which to hide oneself away and enjoy the beauty a warm summer’s day could provide.

  Her father began his pacing once again. “Who would have ever thought a duke would come calling. Oh, to tell others of such a thing.” Then he stopped and tapped a finger to his lips as if in thought. “But why? That is the most baffling part of it all. Why?” He snapped his fingers and answered his own question. “Because my daughter is the most beautiful woman; that is why.”

  Hannah could not help but smile at her father’s grin.

  “Indeed, have no doubt it is true,” he said as he walked over and stood before her. “You have made me proud.”

  “Thank you, Father,” Hannah replied, not sure if he meant that she should be happy the Duke considered her beautiful or for accepting his invitation to call over. Either way, her father and mother were once again smiling, and she would continue to make sure their smiles remained, no matter the price.

  Her father scratched his chin. “You realize that this could lead to marriage.”

  Hannah gasped. Marriage? How her father could dream in such outrageous ways.

  “Oh, Ezra,” her mother said as she took Hannah’s hand, “I don’t believe it wise to speculate on such things. Not this early, that is. You do not want to raise the girl’s hopes too much.”

  The man sighed. “Perhaps you’re right,” he said as he resumed his pacing once more. “But think! Our daughter, a duchess! The amount of money that man must have is untold. She will have the finest dresses, food, attend the grandest parties. Oh, the life you will lead!”

  Hannah could not help but sigh at the man. “Father, I want to marry a man for love, not for his money.” When he snorted at her, she added, “Is that not what I should seek?”

  “Yes, yes, of course,” he replied hastily. “But you must understand that money can help move love along.”

  Her mother gave her hand a gentle squeeze, but Hannah could only shake her head at her father’s idea of love.

  “Ezra, let us speak of such things when—if—they arrive. A simple calling over is no reason to speak of engagement.”

  “What is this of an engagement?”

  Hannah’s heart jumped into her throat, and her body jumped from the chair, as the Duke walked into the room. The fact he did so without waiting to be announced only made her suspicions spark. Yet, who was there to make such an announcement? The butler had been dismissed the previous week.

  “Your Grace,” Mr. Newmont said as he gave the Duke a deep bow, “We did not hear you come in.” Hannah could not help but wonder if the man had even knocked on the door.

  The Duke, however, simply waved his hand in a dismissive manner. “It matters not,” he said. “Now, this engagement?” His eyes came to Hannah, and she swallowed, not knowing what to say but thankful when her mother spoke up.

  “We were just speaking of Hannah’s cousin, that is, my sister’s daughter, Betsy,” Mrs. Newmont said. “We just received word that she has become engaged.”

  Hannah stared at the woman. How easily the woman could devise a falsehood!

  “How exciting,” the Duke said, although his tone lacked any form of excitement. He might have been discussing the flavor of jam that was available for his scones during breakfast. “Well, Newmont, am I allowed to sit or shall I stand here like a fool?”

  Hannah could only clench her hands into fists in anger. Why did the man feel it necessary to embarrass her father? She went to give him a hard glare, but his eyes held such a twinkle that she looked away so she would not fall for his trap. Those eyes were much too alluring for her to look at them.

  “Yes, Your Grace,” her father replied as he led the man to one of the two armchairs across from the couch. “If you will excuse me a moment.” Then her father left the room.

  Once he was seated, Hannah and her mother sat once again. Hannah wondered where propriety was with this man. Did he make it commonplace to sit before the women in the room?

  “Your travel here, was it pleasant, Your Grace?” her mother said as she took her seat beside Hannah.

  The Duke gave a derisive sniff. “Besides the peasants that littered the streets, yes, I would say it was an acceptable journey.”

  Hannah ran her hand along the fabric of the couch in an attempt to keep from looking at the Duke, but she could not resist taking another peek. When she did, his eyes were on her and a smile played at his lips.

  “The tea will be served shortly,” her father said as he returned to the room. “We are honored to have you in our home, Your Grace.”

  “Everyone is honored to have me in their home,” the man replied. “Though, I must admit, I do not call unless I find the reason to do so very important.” His eyes returned to Hannah, and she gripped the edge of the cushion. “This Saturday evening, the Earl of Boxelder is hosting a party, and I would like you to come with me.” It was clearly not a question but a command. “You will come, as well, of course,” he added to her parents.

  “We would be honored,” her father replied excitedly.

  “And you, Miss Newmont? Do you agree with your father?”

  His smile was disarming, and Hannah was finding it difficult to keep her head from spinning—or was it the room that spun around her? Her heart thudded wildly behind her sternum, and her breathing was becoming difficult. How could any man—but this man in particular—make her feel this way?

  “If my father accepts, then so shall I.”

  The Duke’s lip curled up into a smile. “I’m pleased to hear you say so. And I must admit that I eagerly await Hannah in her new dress.” His gaze went to her father. “You will be buying her a new dress, will you not?”

  Her father nodded so quickly Hannah feared his head would fall off. “Yes, Your Grace,” he replied. “And one for my Horatia, as well. In fact, they have plans to go to the dressmaker’s today.”

  Hannah shook her head. Her father had not mentioned this. Then, when she noticed the grin on the Duke’s face, she realized the man was getting enjoyment out of the situation. He knew of their financial difficulties, and yet he found the situation humorous! He might be a duke, but she would not see either of her parents mocked.

  “I cannot wait to see you in your new sui
t, Your Grace,” she said as she attempted to maintain a calm voice. “Have you bought yours already?”

  The man’s eyes went wide and then he let out a deep laugh. “I’m going later this afternoon, as a matter of fact. What a coincidence, is it not?”

  Francine, the last of their servants and lady’s maid to her mother once Jenny began to attend Hannah, brought in a tray and set it on the coffee table. She now held the position of maid of all work, since that was what she did—all of the work of those who had been dismissed. At least they were able to keep the cook, for poor Francine had not a clue how to use the cookstove, let alone how to bake a loaf of bread.

  Hannah listened quietly as the Duke and her father spoke, pretending to be interested but finding the conversation dull. Three months of this pain she was willing to endure, for the promise of reward for her father was well worth it.

  The time passed quicker than she expected, and soon the Duke stood and waited for the rest to follow suit. “Now, before I leave, I would like Miss Newmont to escort me around the grounds.” There was that twinkle in his eye again.

  “She would love nothing more,” her father replied without consulting her first, and Hannah found herself being whisked outside before she could give any sort of response.

  ***

  After taking a glance over her shoulder, Hannah turned and focused on the path ahead and not on the man whose arm she held. It was not that it was an unpleasant feeling, for his arm was strong, the muscles firm. What bothered her was how her face felt as if it were on fire and the fact that she was not sure if she would be able to utter a single word let alone an entire sentence once they began conversing. If the man had plans to converse.

  As if confirming her own thoughts, the Duke began to speak. “The party this weekend will be the finest you have ever attended,” he said. “Well, that is, besides my own.” The last he said with a chuckle, as if his own words held some bit of humor, yet she could not find them.

  “You do not know what parties I have attended, Your Grace,” she said in the haughtiest of tones she could muster. The gall of the man! How dare he make assumptions about what she had and had not experienced!

  As it happened, just at that moment, they passed a section of garden that had lacked attending now that the gardeners had been dismissed, and he snorted. “It is disgusting how your father has allowed such a travesty to occur,” he said as he looked over the vines and weeds that had overtaken the area and ignored her reply. “My horses live in better conditions.”

  “Your Grace,” Hannah said, tempering the anger that threatened to explode at any moment. He stopped and turned toward her, and though her legs once again grew weak at his steady gaze, she pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “Hard times have fallen upon our household, as it has many others. Though it may disappoint you to view such things, please realize that what is happening is devastating to us.”

  At first, she thought the man would rebuke her for her words, for she had spoken them with a passion she had not expected. However, he did not rebuke her but instead gave her a nod, which surprised her greatly.

  “I understand.” He began to walk again, her arm still in his, indicating she was meant to follow. “Since I am to court you over the next few months, I wonder if you have told your friends.”

  Hannah gaped at the man. He went from hot to cold in a matter of seconds! “No, Your Grace,” she replied.

  “Why not?”

  “One of them has moved away and the other is preparing for her own wedding. There are more important things…” she stopped and bit her lip.

  The Duke let out a laugh, joy mixed with arrogance, though Hannah had to admit the lighthearted ring of it revealed his mirth. “There are more important things than being courted by a duke?” he asked, laughing again. “Tell me, what are those things, Miss Newmont? For I know a hundred women who would quickly disagree with you.”

  “Very well, then,” she said. “The reading of a book. Or conversation about the arts. Perhaps an outing with for whom someone you care. Surely you participate in such things?”

  “I hunt, as would any gentleman of my station, and I conduct business.” They came to a stop at the edge of a row of hedges. The sun shone down on them, but his voice was anything but warm. “Anything else is trivial.” His eyes came to hers, and she realized that, not only was the man arrogant, but beneath that he was also angry. Not at her, more than likely, but it was a deep burning anger that resided within him, something perhaps he did not even recognize.

  “I understand,” she said.

  He snorted. He certainly liked to snort. Did he think he was a horse? “You are a simple woman from a simple home. There are many things you do not understand."

  Instead of arguing, Hannah nodded. What good would it do to argue with this man, anyway? He was most certainly grounded in his ideals, and nothing she said would change them.

  The path turned once again so they were heading back to the house. “I must return to my estate,” he said as if the conversation had never taken place.

  Hannah realized that, for the next three months, she would have to endure this man and his strange moods. Perhaps she should make some sort of attempt to get to know him better. An act of kindness might be what was needed to help him to rid himself of that deep-rooted ire.

  “Your Grace,” she said carefully, “there is a book I would like to share with you. I understand that you have no time for such novelties, but I would like to offer it to you, nonetheless.”

  Then came that snort again. “You’re correct in that assumption,” he replied as they came up to the veranda that led back into the house.

  “Nevertheless, will you consider taking it with you.”

  He sighed heavily and then turned toward her. “Fine, then. I will take it, but I make no promises it will be read.”

  “Thank you,” she said and then hurried into the house. Going straight to the library, she went to one of the large bookcases and selected a small leather tome. She ran her hand along its cover. It was a book of poetry that she cherished. If the Duke even read just one passage in it, it would make their next meeting that much more enjoyable, for she would have a topic they could discuss.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Chapter Six

  Joseph caressed the leather-bound book Miss Newmont had given him two days prior. He had read plenty whilst attending University and had no desire to read another book after that which had been forced upon him. Yet, the words the woman said asking him to consider reading it had gnawed at him, and he was not sure as to why. He was a duke, and she just a woman of the Gentry. Her request should mean nothing to him, despite the fact she was beautiful with blue eyes that transfixed him. Those eyes seemed to hold a power he had never seen, causing him to emphasize his bravado beyond what was necessary. Yet, when she slipped her hand through his arm, a need to protect her washed over him, a feeling he had never experienced before.

  He let out a sigh, took the glass of wine from his desk, and took a sip, his mind replaying the night he had kissed her. He had done that before to other women, created a longing look in their eyes, a longing for more, and yet Miss Newmont was different. At first, he thought her caught in his web, but then she had loosed herself somehow. Then, she had been on the verge of refusing his offer to court her, which would have saved him a bit of coin and an exorbitant amount of his time. A sense of relief had taken over when she had finally relented, though her clear reluctance was new to him. What worried him above all else was that he could not lose his bet to Albert, the shame of such a thing would be too much to bear. Yes, the house in Rumford was a favorite; however, he had many others in which he could spend a summer’s day. How his peers would take his loss was altogether a different matter.

  Glancing down at the book once more, he considered opening it. If he read just a single page, then he could tell her so, and it would please her. Then again, he was not in the business of making people happy, for he himself was not happy. With the passing of his
father four years earlier, he had taken on both his father’s title and the associated responsibilities, leaving behind the freedom of his youth. How he missed those days.

  With a sigh, he finished off the wine and had just returned the glass to his desk when a swift rap came to the door. A moment later, Miller, Joseph’s butler, entered the room.

  “A Mr. Newmont to see you, Your Grace,” the butler said with a deep bow. Miller’s silver eyebrows threatened to tangle with the matching hair that hung over his forehead.

  Joseph gave the man a nod, and Mr. Newmont entered, standing straight and tall with an eagerness on his face that was quite evident. Miller left them, closing the door behind him.

  “Newmont,” Joseph said in a bored tone he knew would set the man on edge and motioned toward a chair beside a bookcase, “you may sit.”

  Mr. Newmont walked over to the chair Joseph indicated, and Joseph had to hide a smile. “On second thought, take this one,” he said, now motioning to another chair on the opposite side of the room. It was not that he cared on which chair the man sat, but Joseph did enjoy making the man obey his commands.

  The man gave him a confused look before rising from the first chair and coming to sit on the chair in front of his desk, but he made no comment.

  “I take it both your wife and daughter were pleased when I called over?”

  “Yes, Your Grace,” Mr. Newmont said with an emphatic shake of his head. “We all were. To have such a…”

  Joseph raised his hand, cutting off the man. “I understand such things.” In reality, hearing the man blather on made Joseph sick. There was a time and place for groveling; plus, Joseph was not in the mood. “What I do not understand is why you have allowed your home to come to near utter destruction.”

  The man looked down, red-faced. “You are right, Your Grace,” he said quietly. “I have often wondered as much myself.”

  “Well, go on, then,” Joseph said with impatience, “tell me. Surely you must know or have some sort of idea. Did you gamble your fortune away? Perhaps you had a mistress.”